Aqueous concentrated liquid hard surface cleaning compositions which bloom when added to a larger volume of water which comprises the following constituents:botanical oil constituent;at least one botanical oil solubilizing surfactant which is preferably an amine oxide surfactant;a binary solvent system which includes at least one organic alcohol constituent and at least one glycol solvent constituent;optionally but desirably a polyoxycarboxylate constituent;optionally but desirably an effective amount of a chelating agent which includes at least one non-ionized acetate group, most preferably a mono-, di- or tri- alkali or alkaline ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;optionally but desirably at least one optional constituent selected from: chelating agents, coloring agents, light stabilizers, fragrances, thickening agents, hydrotropes, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers one or more detersive surfactant constituents particularly non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants, as well as others known the art.The one or more optional constituents are selected to be present, and are included in amounts which do not undesirably affect the overall blooming characteristics of the present inventive compositions, and further the compositions of the invention do not include pine oil.

Claim:

What is claimed is:

1. An aqueous concentrated liquid hard surface cleaning composition which blooms when added to a large volume of water which comprises the following constituents:

3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the amine oxide surfactant is selected from those according to the formulae: ##STR4## wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen or is an alkyl, 2-hydroxyalkyl, 3-hydroxyalkyl, or 3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl radicalwhere the alkyl and alkoxy parts contain from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms;

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the binary solvent system includes isopropyl alcohol.

5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the binary solvent system includes propylene glycol.

6. A composition according to claim 1 which includes a carboxylate constituent.

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the carboxylate constituent is selected from alkylcarboxylates, alkylarylcarboxylates, alkylpolyoxycarboxylates and polyethoxycarboxylates.

8. A composition according to claim 1 which includes a mono-, di- or tri- alkali or alkaline ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

9. A composition according to claim 1 which includes less than 0.1% wt. of pine oil.

10. An aqueous dilution of the composition according to claim 1 in a larger volume of water.

11. An aqueous dilution of the composition according to claim 10 characterized in that

the resultant dilution exhibits a reduction of transmitted light of at least 30%, when a dilution of the concentrate composition:water with the weight or volume ratio range of from 1:64 is formed.

12. A process for cleaning a hard surface which comprises the step of:

applying a cleaning effective amount composition according to claim 1 to a hard surface.

Description:

The present invention relates to blooming type compositions. Blooming is a property exhibitedby dilutable compositions such as known cleaning compositions, specifically pine-oil type cleaning compositions which contain a significant amount (generally at least about 5% and more) of pine oil which includes a significant proportion of terpenealcohols. Certain phenolic disinfectant compounds, such as LYSOL disinfectant concentrate (Reckitt & Colman, Inc., Montvale N.J.) also exhibit such a blooming property. Blooming may be characterized as the formation of milky, creamy or cloudyappearance which is manifested when a dilutable composition is added to a larger volume or quantity of water. Blooming is an important characteristic from a consumer standpoint as it provides a visual indicator and impression to the consumer that theconcentrated product contains active cleaning and/or disinfecting constituents which are released upon addition of the concentrate to a volume of water. Such is an important visual indicator of apparent efficacy of a concentrated product.

While presently commercially available materials have advantageous features, they are not without their attendant shortcomings as well. For example, the use of pine oil, and its pungent characteristic odor is frequently not desired. A furtherdisadvantage is that the use of significant amounts of pine oil in a composition is desirably avoided as the pine oil is know to deposit a sticky residue on hard surfaces, which is particularly undesirable from a consumer standpoint. Also, many suchcompositions frequently are directed to providing a cleaning effect, and do not provide an appreciable sanitizing effect.

It has now been found that it is now possible to produce certain concentrate compositions utilizing these selected constituents in particular formulations which provide blooming type cleaning compositions in a concentrated liquid form whichfeature a good blooming effect, and which do not include any significant proportion pine oil, (i.e., less than 0.1% wt., preferably not more than 0.05% wt. and most preferably 0% wt.) but which provide a blooming effect. The "blooming" observed may bedescribed as the change of the water's appearance from essentially colorless and transparent to that of a milky white or milky yellowish white, cloudy appearance. This effect is also sometimes referred to as the "break". Such blooming is a highlydesirable in blooming type cleaning compositions as consumer/end user expectations associate cleaning effectiveness with the extent and degree of this blooming upon formation of a cleaning composition. Such blooming is particularly desirable incompositions where the blooming characteristic in an aqueous dilution is long lasting.

Accordingly it is among the objects of the present invention to provide blooming type concentrate compositions wherein the blooming characteristic is based on certain essential oils in conjunction with the specific system of surfactants andorganic solvents described in more detail below. It is also among the objects of the invention to provide processes for the production of such provide blooming type concentrate compositions as well as methods of treating hard surfaces using them.

Accordingly in one aspect of the invention there is provided an aqueous concentrated liquid hard surface cleaning composition which blooms when added to a larger volume of water which comprises the following constituents:

a binary solvent system which includes at least one organic alcohol constituent and at least one glycol solvent constituent;

optionally but frequently desirably, a carboxylate constituent;

optionally but desirably an effective amount of a chelating agent which includes at least one non-ionized acetate group, most preferably a mono-, di- or tri- alkali or alkaline ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;

optionally but desirably at least one optional constituent selected from: further chelating agents, coloring agents, light stabilizers, fragrances, thickening agents, hydrotropes, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers one or more detersive surfactantconstituents particularly nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, as well as others known the art. The one or more optional constituents are selected to be present, and are included in amounts which do not undesirably affect the overall bloomingcharacteristics of the present inventive compositions;

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a concentrated liquid disinfectant composition wherein the composition exhibits a blooming effect when diluted in a larger volume of water.

It is among the further object of the invention to provide such a concentrated liquid disinfectant composition wherein the composition exhibits good long term stability, i.e., shelf stability in its concentrated form.

These oils may be present in the compositions in any amounts which are effective in providing a desirable blooming effect. Generally amounts from as little as 0.001% wt. to amounts of 20% wt. are useful, based on the total weight of theconcentrated liquid disinfectant composition. More preferably these oils are present in amounts of from 0.01 -15% wt., still more preferably 0.1-15% wt., and most preferably in amounts of from 1-10% wt. Of course, more a plurality of oils may be used.

A further constituent according to the invention is an organic solvent which is present in addition to the botanical oil which is itself known to be an organic solvent and assists in improves the dispersability and/or miscibility of the botanicaloil in water. The organic solvent may also improve the miscibility of further constituents according to the present invention, including any water insoluble or poorly soluble constituents. Many useful organic solvents which arc known to be useful indispersing botanical oil in water may be used; virtually any may be used as long as it does not undesirably disrupt the favorable characteristics of the invention, especially the blooming characteristic. Mixtures of two or more organic solvents may alsobe used as the organic solvent constituent.

Additionally the inventor has found the according to certain preferred embodiments the organic solvent constituent, comprises, and in certain especially preferred embodiments consist essentially of, an alkylene glycol such as propylene glycol,with a monohydric lower aliphatic alcohol such as a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 aliphatic primary or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 aliphatic secondary alcohol, especially isopropyl alcohol, and further a higher aliphatic primary or secondary alcohol such as a C.sub.8 -C.sub.14alcohol, especially lauryl alcohol. Desirably, the alkylene glycol constituent is equal in an amount at least equal to the total amount of both the C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alcohol and the C.sub.8 -C.sub.14 alcohol.

The organic solvent constituent may be present in the concentrated liquid disinfectant compositions in amounts of from about 0.001% by weight to up to about 50% by weight, preferably about 0.1-40% by weight, most preferably in amount of between0.1-35% by weight. Of course a mixture of organic solvents may be used.

The concentrate compositions of the invention further comprise at least one botanical oil solubilizing surfactant. Particularly useful as the botanical oil solubilizing surfactant are nonionic surfactant compositions based on amine oxides.

Non-limiting examples of useful amine oxide semi-polar nonionic surfactants include those according to the formulae: ##STR1##

wherein:

R.sub.1 is hydrogen or is an alkyl, 2-hydroxyalkyl, 3-hydroxyalkyl, or 3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl radical where the alkyl and alkoxy parts contain from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms;

n is an integer from 0 to about 10, but is preferably n is at least 1.

Preferably, the amine oxide semi-polar nonionic surfactants are those wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical of from 12 to 16 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from methyl or ethyl, m is 2, and n is 0. Specific examplesof such useful amine oxide semi-polar nonionic surfactants include cetyl-, myristyl- or lauryl- dimethyl amine oxide or mixtures thereof.

A further useful general class of useful amine oxides which may be included in the amine oxide constituent according to the invention are further alkyl di (lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. The lower alkyl groups include between 1 and 7 carbon atoms. Examples include those described above, as well as those in which the alkyl group is a mixture of differentamine oxides, dimethyl cocoamine oxides, dimethyl (hydrogenated tallow) amine oxides, and myristyl/palmityl dimethyl amine oxides.

A further class of useful amine oxides include alkyl di (hydroxy lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. Examples arebis(2-hydroxyethyl) cocoamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) tallowamine oxide; and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) stearylamine oxide.

Further useful amine oxides include those which may be characterized as alkylamidopropyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated orunsaturated. Examples are cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and tallowamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; and

Additional useful amine oxides include those which may be referred to as alkylmorpholine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated.

Useful amine oxides may be obtained from a variety of commercial sources and include for example amine oxides available in the AO series from Tomah Products Inc.; in the AMMONYX series from Stepan Co.; in the BARLOX series (ex. Lonza Inc.,Fairlawn, N.J.), in the RHODAMOX series (ex. Rhone-Poulenc Inc, Cranbury, N.J.), as well as in the MACKAMINE series of products (ex. McIntyre Group Ltd.)

Particularly useful amine oxides for use in the present inventive compositions include AO-728 Special which is described to be a composition containing 50% wt. of bis-(2-hydroxyethyl C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 alkyloxypropyl) amine oxide,bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) isotridecyloxypropylamine oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) isodecyloxypropylamine oxide (ex. Tomah Products Inc., Milton Wis.), AMMONYX CDO Special described to be cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine (ex. Stepan Co., Northfield Ill.), aswell MACKAMINE AO described to be isostearamidopropylamine oxide, and MACKAMINE CO described to be cocoamine oxide (ex. McIntyre Group Ltd.).

As noted previously, the compositions are aqueous in nature. Water is added in order to provide 100% by weight of the concentrate composition. The water may be tap water, but is preferably distilled and/or deionized water. If the water is tapwater, it is preferably appropriately filtered in order to remove any undesirable impurities such as organics or inorganics, especially minerals salts which are present in hard water which may thus interfere with the operation of the other constituentsof the invention, as well as any other optional components of the liquid concentrates according to the invention.

Water is added in amounts which are sufficient to form the concentrated compositions which amount is sufficient to ensure the retention of a substantially clear characteristic when produced as a concentrate, but at the same time ensuring goodblooming upon the addition of the concentrated composition to a further amount of water, or upon the addition of further water to the concentrate.

Other conventional additives known to the art but not expressly enumerated here may also be included in the compositions according to the invention. By way of non-limiting example without limitation these may include: chelating agents, coloringagents, light stabilizers, fragrances, thickening agents, hydrotropes, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers as well as one or more detersive surfactant constituents including anionic, cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants. Many of these materialsare known to the art, per se, and are described in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition, 1982; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Vol. 22, pp. 346-387, the contents of which are herein incorporated byreference. Such optional, i.e., non-essential constituents should be selected so to have little or no detrimental effect upon the desirable characteristics of the present invention, namely the

blooming behavior, cleaning efficacy, disinfectant activity, and low toxicity as provided by the inventive compositions. Generally the total weight of such further conventional additives may comprise up to 25% by weight of a concentratedcomposition formulation.

Further optional, but advantageously included constituents are one or more coloring agents which find use in modifying the appearance of the concentrate compositions and enhance their appearance from the perspective of a consumer or other enduser. Known coloring agents, may be incorporated in the compositions in effective amount to improve or impart to concentrate compositions a desired appearance. Such a coloring agent or coloring agents may be added in any useful amount in a conventionalfashion, i.e., admixing to a concentrate composition or blending with other constituents used to form a concentrate composition. Known art light stabilizer constituents may also be added, particularly wherein coloring agents are used in a composition. As is known to the art, such light stabilizers act to retain the appearance characteristics of the concentrate compositions over longer intervals of time.

Exemplary useful buffers include the alkali metal phosphates, polyphospates, pyrophosphates, triphosphates, tetraphosphates, silicates, metasilicates, polysilicates, carbonates, hydroxides, and mixtures of the same. Certain salts, such as thealkaline earth phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, can also function as buffers. It may also be suitable to use buffers such materials as aluminiosilicates (zeolites), borates, aluminates and certain organic materials Such as gluconates, succinates,maleates, and their alkali metal salts. Such buffers keep the pH ranges of the compositions of the present invention within acceptable limits.

Exemplary useful pH adjusting agents include known materials which may be used to adjust the pH of the concentrate compositions to a desired range.

Exemplary useful anionic surfactants include the water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium (e.g., monoethanolammonium or triethanolammonium) salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in theirmolecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of aryl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactantsare the alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl groupcontains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain. Exemplary useful are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 14.

Other anionic surfactants herein are the water soluble salts of: paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 to about 24 (preferably about 12 to 18) carbon atoms; alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of C.sub.8 -C.sub.18alcohols (e.g., those derived from tallow and coconut oil); alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; and alkylethylene oxide ether sulfates containing about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water soluble salts of esters of .alpha.-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 0 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; watersoluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 24 carbonatoms; and .beta.-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.

Also useful as the anionic surfactant are carboxylates which include alkyl- and alkylaryl-carboxylates which include those which may be represented by the general formula:

wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain containing from about 9 to 21 carbon atoms, and which may also include an aromatic ring, especially a phenyl group as part of the hydrocarbon chain, and M is a metal or ammonium ion. Furtherpreferred alkylpolyoxycarboxylates include polyethoxycarboxylates which may be represented by the general formula:

wherein R is a straight chained or branched hydrocarbon chain which may include an aryl moiety, but is desirably a straight chained or branched hydrocarbon chain; and n is an integer value of from 1-24, and M is a metal or ammonium ion, but ispreferably a alkali or alkaline earth metal ion, especially sodium.

Exemplary useful alkylpolyoxycarboxylates and alkylarylpolycarboxylates include those commercially available in the NEODOX series from Shell Chemical Co.; SANDOPAN series from Clariant Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.), as well as in the SURFINE seriesfrom Finetex, Inc.

When present in the concentrated liquid disinfectant compositions, the alkylpolyoxycarboxylates or alkylarylpolycarboxylate constituent is included in amounts of from about 0.001% by weight to up to about 20% by weight, preferably about 0.1 10%by weight, most preferably in amount of between 1-5% by weight. Of course a mixture of these constituents may be used. It is to be understood that the alkylpolyoxycarboxylates and alkylarylpolycarboxylates may be used in the place or, or in conjunctionwith the amine oxide constituent discussed herein. Also, mixtures of two or more alkylpolyoxycarboxylates and alkylarylpolycarboxylates may be used.

Exemplary useful optional cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof include quaternary ammonium germicides which may be characterized by the general structural formula: ##STR2##

where at least one or R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is a alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and desirably the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165. The alkylsubstituents may be long-chain alkyl, long-chain alkoxyaryl, long-chain alkylaryl, halogen-substituted long-chain alkylaryl, long-chain alkylphenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc. The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms other than the abovementionedalkyl substituents are hydrocarbons usually containing no more than 12 carbon atoms. The substituents R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be straight-chained or may be branched, but are preferably straight-chained, and may include one or moreamide, ether or ester linkages. The counterion X may be any salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex. Exemplary counterions include halides, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or methosulfate.

Exemplary quaternary ammonium salts within the above description include the alkyl ammonium halides such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, alkyl aryl ammonium halides such as octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, N-alkyl pyridiniumhalides such as N-cetyl pyridinium bromide, and the like. Other suitable types of quaternary ammonium salts include those in which the molecule contains either amide, ether or ester linkages such as octyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammoniumchloride, N-(laurylcocoaminoformylmethyl)-pyridinium chloride, and the like. Other very effective types of quaternary ammonium compounds which are useful as germicides include those in which the hydrophobic radical is characterized by a substitutedaromatic nucleus as in the case of lauryloxyphenyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, cetylaminophenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylphenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, chlorinated dodecylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride, and the like.

Particularly preferred quaternary ammonium compounds which act as germicides and which are be found useful in the practice of the present invention include those which have the structural formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the sameor different C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl, or R.sub.2 is C.sub.12 -C.sub.16 alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkylethoxy, C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkylphenolethoxy and R.sub.3 is benzyl, and X is a halide, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or methosulfate. Thealkyl groups recited in R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be straight-chained or branched, but are preferably substantially linear. The counterion X is as described previously.

The useful optional nonionic surfactants, include known art nonionic surfactant compounds. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen can be condensed withethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol, to form a water soluble nonionic surfactant compound. Further, the length of the polyethylenoxy hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements may various. Exemplary nonioniccompounds include the polyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl aromatic hydroxy compounds, e.g., alkylated polyoxyethylene phenols, polyoxyethylene ethers of long chain aliphatic alcohols, the polyoxyethylene ethers of hydrophobic propylene oxide polymers, andthe higher alkyl amine oxides.

To be mentioned as particularly useful nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated linear primary and secondary alcohols such as those commercially available under the tradenames POLYTERGENT SL, series (Olin Chemical Co., Stamford Conn.), NEODOL series(Shell Chemical Co., Houston Tex.); as alkoxylated alkyl phenols including those commercially available under the tradename TRITON X series (Union Carbide Chem. Co., Danbury Conn.).

Further exemplary useful nonionic surfactants which may be used include certain alkanolamides including monoethanolamides and diethanolamides, particularly fatty monoalkanolamides and fatty dialkanolamides. Commercially available monoethanolamides and diethanol amides include those marketed under the trade names ALKAMIDE and CYCLOMIDE by Rhone-Poulene Co., (Cranbury, N.J.).

Exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants include alkylbetaines, particularly those which may be represented by the following structural formula:

wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain which may include an aryl moiety, but is preferably a straight hydrocarbon chain containing from about 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Further exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants includeamidoalkylbetaines, such as amidopropylbetaines which may be represented by the following structural formula:

wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain which may include an aryl moiety, but is preferably a straight hydrocarbon chain containing from about 6 to 30 carbon atoms.

What is to be understood by the term "concentrate" and "concentrate composition" in this specification and claims is the pre-consumer dilution and composition of the cleaning composition which is the essentially the form of the product preparedfor sale to the consumer or other end user. Such a consumer or other end user would then normally be expected to dilute the same with water to form a cleaning composition. It is to be understood however that nothing in this invention would bar its useas cleaning composition without any further dilution and it may be used in the concentrations in which it was prepared for sale. Similarly, what is to be understood by the term "cleaning compositions" are the water diluted compositions which areexpected to be prepared by the consumer or other end user by mixing a measured amount of the "concentrate" with water in order to form an appropriately diluted cleaning composition which is suitable for use in cleaning applications, especially in thecleaning of hard surfaces.

It is also to be understood, that proportions of one or more constituents have been and generally are referred to as percent by weight or as parts by weight based on a measure of 100% by weight, unless otherwise indicated.

According to certain particularly preferred embodiments of the invention there are provided aqueous concentrated liquid disinfectant composition which comprise the following constituents:

1-10% wt. of botanical oil constituent;

0.1-35% wt. of an organic solvent constituent;

1-20% wt. of a botanical oil solubilizing constituent, especially one or more amine oxide surfactants;

1-5% of an alkylpolyoxycarboxylate constituent;

optionally but desirably up to 20% wt. of at least one optional constituent selected from: chelating agents, coloring agent, light stabilizers, fragrances, thickening agents, hydrotropes, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers one or more detersivesurfactant constituents including anionic, catinoic non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants, as well as others known the art, with the proviso that the concentrate compositions do not include pine oil.

As generally denoted above, the formulations according to the invention include both cleaning compositions and concentrates as outlined above which differ only in the relative proportion of water to that of the other constituents forming suchformulations. While the concentrated form of the cleaning compositions find use in their original form, they are more frequently used in the formation of a cleaning composition therefrom. Such may be easily prepared by diluting measured amounts of theconcentrate compositions in water by the consumer or other end user in certain weight ratios of concentrate:water, and optionally, agitating the same to ensure even distribution of the concentrate in the water. As noted, the concentrate may be usedwithout dilution, i.e., in concentrate:water concentrations of 1:0, to extremely dilute dilutions such as 1:10,000. Desirably, the concentrate is diluted in the range of 1:0.1-1:1000, preferably in the range of 1:1-1:500 but most preferably in the rangeof 1:10-1:100. The actual dilution selected is in part determinable by the degree and amount of dirt and grime to be removed from a surface(s), the amount of mechanical force imparted to remove the same, as well as the observed efficacy of a particulardilution. Generally better results and faster removal is to be expected at lower relative dilutions of the concentrate in water.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, when a quantity of the concentrate compositions taught herein are added to a larger volume of water, a blooming characteristic is manifested. Such "blooming" may be broadly characterizedas the formation of milky, creamy or cloudy appearance which is manifested when a dilutable composition is added to a larger volume or quantity of water. Such "blooming" may be alternately characterized as the reduction of transmitted light through anamount of water by at least 30%, desirably by at least 40%, yet more desirably by at least about 50%, still more by at least 60%, and yet most desirably by at least 75% or more when a dilution of the concentrate composition:water with the weight orvolume ratio range of from 1:64-102, especially 1:64 is formed. That such blooming may be attained without the use of pine oils as are commonly found in certain commercially available pine oil containing preparations Is very surprising.

As has been noted, concentrate compositions according to preferred embodiments of the invention exhibit a long lasting blooming effect when they are diluted into a larger volume of water, especially when used to form (weight ratio) dilutions withwater of concentrate:water of 1:64 at room temperature (20.degree. C., 68.degree. F.). Desirably, such dilutions do not exhibit an increase in light transmittance in accordance with the measurement methods discussed in the Examples below, of more than50% (based on the initial `as mixed` value) during its initial three-day interval.

The concentrate compositions according to the invention, and aqueous dilutions formed therefrom, are particularly useful in the cleaning of hard surfaces. By way of non-limiting example, hard surfaces include surfaces composed of refractorymaterials such as: glazed and unglazed tile, brick, porcelain, ceramics as well as stone including marble, granite, and other stones surfaces; glass; metals; plastics e.g. polyester, vinyl; fiberglass, FORMICA, CORIAN and other hard surfaces known to theart. Hard surfaces which are to be particularly denoted include those associated with kitchen environments, lavatory environments, especially flooring surfaces and the surfaces of fixtures (doors, cabinets, shelving, and the like) in such environments.

The following examples below illustrate exemplary and among them preferred formulations of the composition according to the instant invention. It is to be understood that these examples are presented by means of illustration only and thatfurther useful formulations fall within the scope of this invention and the claims may be readily produced by one skilled in the art and not deviate from the scope and spirit of the invention.

EXAMPLES

A number of formulations were produced by mixing the constituents outlined in Table 1 by adding the individual constituents into a beaker of deionized water at room temperature which was stirred with a conventional magnetic stirring rod. Theorder of addition is not critical, but good results are obtained where the surfactants are added to the water prior to Stirring continued until the formulation was homogenous in appearance. It is to be noted that the constituents might be added in anyorder, but it is preferred that water be the initial constituent provided to a mixing vessel or apparatus as it is the major constituent and addition of the further constituents thereto is convenient. The exact compositions of the example formulationsare listed on Table 1, below. Attention is directed to the fact that the formulations in Table I were substantially the same, except for the types and amounts of acids which were included in the formulations.

The blooming characteristics of these formulations was characterized by using the Brinkman Sybron PC 801 colorimeter. Each tested formulation were diluted with deionised water in a weight ratio of 1:64, and the test was carried out with each ofthe formulations and water at room temperature (68.degree. F., 20.degree. C.). The resulting determined values, reported as "blooming" in the following table provide an empirical evaluation in percent transmittance (%) of the degree of transparency ofa diluted example formulation wherein 0% indicates complete opacity and 100% the transparency of a deionised water sample. The result was tabulated on Table 3:

As may be seen from the results indicated on Table 3, the formulations according to the invention based on the botanical oil constituent provided very satisfactory blooming.

Cleaning Test:

Cleaning efficacy was measured for weight ratios of 1:64 (concentrate composition:water) aqueous dilutions of formulations according to Examples 3 and 4, and as a control, the formulation according to Comp. 1 described above. The test wascarried out using the ASTM D4488-89, Annex A2 method - greasy soil on painted masonite wallboard test, using a Gardner Washability Apparatus.

Latex painted masonite wallboard is soiled with a mixture of melted, oily soils containing a small amount of carbon black and allowed to set overnight. A first aqueous dilution is applied to a sponge that scrubs half the soiled substrate in astraight-line using the Gardner Washability Apparatus. Afterwards, the second aqueous dilution is applied to a further sponge that scrubs the other half of the soiled substrate in a similar manner.

In determining the cleaning efficiency, reflectance values were determined using a Gardner Lab Scan Reflectometer for each of the following: a clean unsoiled panel, a soiled panel, and a soiled panel following Gardner Washability Apparatusscrubbing. Such reflectance values were then employed to calculate % cleaning efficiency according to the following formula: ##EQU1## wherein, Lt=% reflectance average after scrubbing solid tile

As shown, the measurement of the cleaning effectiveness of the test samples involved the ability of the cleaning composition to remove the test soil from the test substrate. This was expressed by % Cleaning Efficiency. As numerical values for a% Cleaning Efficiency increase, higher cleaning effectiveness is achieved for the cleaning composition tested. As the results show, the inventive compositions showed an excellent cleaning property.